The award recognizes Mt. SAC’s work in implementing the system programming and web design aspects of the Foothill Transit Class Pass for Student Transportation program. The team created a web application that registers a Foothill Transit bus pass in the college’s student information system when a student swipes his or her ID card. It allows a staff member to verify enrollment and issue a bus pass to students in less than five seconds. Data is then sent each night to Foothill Transit to activate or deactivate bus passes.

So far, some 8,500 students have received a free Class Pass, which created additional passenger demand for expanded bus service along routes that serve the college. In response, Foothill Transit added buses to meet that demand. Not only has the program increased student use of mass transit overall, it has also helped reduce area traffic congestion and relieved overcrowding in campus parking lots.